Maryland Hospital Not Hiring Smokers

Maryland Hospital Not Hiring Smokers

Photo Credit: MGN Online

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (CBS) — In an unusual move, a hospital in Annapolis, Maryland will no longer hire people who light up. Officials at Anne Arundel Medical Center says they will stop hiring applicants who use tobacco.

“We want to have a healthy workforce, a healthier environment for our patients and visitors,” said Dr. Stephen Cattaneo, Anne Arundel Medical Center. Dr. Cattaneo says, for the center’s 4,000 employees, it’s about practicing what you preach. He says Maryland does not have discrimination laws to protect smokers. While Maryland doesn’t, its neighbors Washington, DC and Virginia do.

The new employment policy doesn’t go into effect until next summer, but this July, the medical center’s six campuses will also completely ban tobacco use, including e-cigarettes.

Right now, smokers can smoke on public sidewalks around the hospital. But that’s all going to change when the hospital becomes tobacco free. Employee Jill Smitley says the lingering smell of smoke can be cumbersome for patients. “It makes them nauseous. And you don’t want that for people,” Smitley said.

Employees who smoke won’t lose their jobs once the policy goes into effect, but will have to comply with the new rules. Starting next month, there will be no designated places to smoke around hospital campus.

The new policy is the first of its kind in the Annapolis area, but not the first in the country. The Cleveland Clinic required employees to be tobacco free in 2007.

3 comments

tim

Why ban Eciggs ? They help smokers quit tobacco and lead healthier lives. E ciggs contain no tobacco. Stupid people, Stupid policies. Hope it cost the hospital numerous staff that may relocate to neighboring states which have anti discrimination laws…

Ashley

Athens hospital has a pretty strict no smoking policy for employees as well. They aren’t allowed to smoke on campus even in their cars and if they go on break and come back smelling like smoke they will be asked to leave and change, for the first offense. Second offense gets stricter.